Tennis: Roger Federer Stands Out Over Rafael Nadal In Intriguing Running Statistic

There’s no question that Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have dominated tennis for more than a decade. A recent study analyzed tennis' top stars and it showed an interesting take on Nadal and Federer’s style of play.

As published by the official ATP website, an Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers study showed the running patterns of the top 10 players from the FedEx rankings from 2018-2020. It compares how one performs from the first set to the succeeding parts of the match.

One interesting takeaway is how Nadal dominated the data gathered with how he runs 10% less in set two than in set one. This was the biggest difference among all players sampled in the study that featured all ATP sanctioned events played on Hawk-Eye courts.

The high difference in Nadal’s second set can be attributed to how much running he does in the first set with an average of 3,512 feet. This shows how fast he takes over the pace of the match from the very beginning, leaving little chance for his opponent to rally back. Given the high intensity he displays at the onset, Nadal doesn’t take much effort to finish the match given how explosive he starts off.

But one intriguing aspect of the study showed is that Federer runs more in the second set compared to the first. This highlights the fact that the 20-time Grand Slam Champion remains even more persistent in the succeeding portions of a match. A proven winner and a resilient competitor, Federer at 36 years old have been able to find ways to stay in elite condition.

The average number Federer has in first sets is 2,521 feet while the second set is higher at 2,628 feet. The Swiss legend is the only one in the data group to move more in the succeeding set than the first.

It’s important to note that despite everything Federer has done in his career, he maintains ways to take over any competition. While he’s recovering from a knee injury, it would be fascinating to see how his career would hold up with everything that has been happening in the world.